The A82 will be closed to allow the removal of an unstable rock. Photo: Steven Brown CC-BY-SA-2.0

Outdoors enthusiasts heading towards the western Highlands face difficulties with their journeys after a landslip closed a main road.

The A83 at Rest and Be Thankful between Arrochar and Inveraray is impassable in both directions.

A long diversion is necessary for anyone heading to or from areas such as Glen Fyne. The diversion route, via the A82 through Tyndrum and A85 at Dalmally will add 26 miles to the journey.

The A82 itself will be closed for work to remove an unstable 200-tonne rock on Forestry Commission land during the weekend of 9 to 12 December.

The work will take place south of Fort William and traffic will be barred from 10pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.

Mike Green, the commission’s project manager said: “This will provide enough time for a protective covering to be placed on the road below the rock, the rock to be released from the hill-side in a controlled manner, then broken up and taken away.

“We appreciate that closing the road over the weekend is going to inconvenience a lot of people, so we will be working every minute of every hour to remove and clear up the rock and open the road again.”

David Hamilton, national network manager for Transport Scotland, added: “Scotland Transerv will be on hand during the closure to help deal with any roads related issues as they arise, and stands ready to reopen the road as early as is practicably possible.”

It is not yet known when the A83 at Rest and Be Thankful will reopen.